Somalia: Al-Shabaab attacks UN compound in capital

A heavily fortified compound in Somalia’s capital Mogadishu was attacked
by al-Shabaab militants on Wednesday, local media reported.

Local
broadcaster Dalsan Radio said mortar shells were fired at the Halane
compound, which houses UN, EU, and African Union facilities, as well as
embassies of countries including the U.S. and U.K.

Bashir Ahmed
Ali, a police officer in Mogadishu, confirmed the attack to Anadolu
Agency but did not provide details on any casualties.

The UN
Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM) also tweeted a confirmation later,
but said the “mortar rounds landed in the vicinity” of the compound.

“Following
standard procedures, security personnel are in the process of assessing
any potential damage or injuries. We will communicate more details as
they become available,” UNSOM said in the tweet.

In a statement online, al-Shabaab took responsibility for the attack, claiming it fired five mortar shells at the compound and there were several casualties.

The Somalia-based al-Shabaab, which is affiliated with al-Qaeda, also attacked the Halane compound in February.

The group had claimed there were casualties, but none were reported by the institutions located inside the protected zone.